Tight budget? Worry no more. If you are heading to Catanduanes and on a tight budget and don't know where to stay, try Rakdell Inn.

Rakdell Inn is located in Virac and near town proper and has access to terminals going to any point in Catanduanes so staying here is quite an idea.

From Virac town proper you can ride a tricycle, fare is 9php only and tell the driver you are heading to Rakdell Inn. If the driver is not familiar with it just tell them it's located at the back of Virac's Cathedral.

For only 350php you can spend a peaceful night in one of their single fan room with own television and bathroom.

View in the balcony at night

Rakdell Inn

Address: San Pedro, Virac Diversion Rd, Virac, 4800 Catanduanes

Phone: 0908 885 0569

Aside from the cheapest room, they also offer meals and drinks to their customers. Their staff is very accommodating that they even help me look for someone who can bring me to Balacay Point in Baras. Too bad I can't afford the price. It' s 700php, uggr too costly for me. Good thing I met this guy who helped me visit Baras!

How to go there via San Andres Port

From Manila there are buses going to Tabaco Port, Albay. Fare is 850php air-conditioned via Cagsawa Bus, their terminal is in Ali Mall. Travel time is around 12 hrs. I chose Cagsawa as per my friend's advise because they have the most comfortable seats. Swear!

From Tabaco Port, ride a RORO going to San Andres, first trip is 7 am. Fare is 220php for non-air-conditioned. There is a terminal fee 30php. There is airconditioned, I just don't know the price but its much higher. Fastcraft is also available but not until 12nn and I have a tight schedule so no time should gone to waste by waiting.

Again, as per my friend, it is advisable to take the San Andres port instead of Virac. Travel time via San Andres port is 2-3 hours whereas via Virac it will take up to 3-4 hours. Both depending on the waves of the sea. Since most of the spot in Catanduanes starts in Virac, from San Andres port you can ride a jeepney going to Virac. Travel time will take about 20-30 minutes.

There are jeepneys parked outside that heads to Virac. Tell the driver where you are heading so they can drop you there. Fare is 20php.

First, it is not a white beach that most of us thought. Seeing all the photos over internet I really thought that this beach is as white as those in the photos I saw. Okay, I know some would say, it's in Zambales what do you expect? Again, this blog post is just about what I have witnessed face to face. I mean, let's admit it, we've used filters more than it is needed that the place became so different in personal.

But we also have to take into account those who uses high quality camera and good photographers that turn every places into magical one. Or some just happened to have a good quality camera, I think I fall on latter. K.

Please bear in mind that I used Fujifilm XA2 in advance settings in taking all of the photos here.
I am not saying that Crystal Beach is not great its just that I based my expectation from what I saw online.

Okay, let's move on from this. Overall I enjoyed my short stay here. The place is great and chill.

Here's a travel guide going to Crystal Beach Resort

How to go there?

Option 1

If you are coming from Manila, ride a bus going to Iba, Zambales and alight at San Narciso. Make sure to inform the ticketing employee that you are going to San Narciso. Fare is a lot much higher if you will not mention you are heading to San Narciso only. Fare is 270. Travel time may take up to 4 hrs.

Victory liner has a regular trip to Iba, Zambales. Please check their site for updated time of the trip. But as of January 2017, first trip is 5:00 AM.

From San Narciso, there's a tricycle terminal in front of the Church and tell the driver you are heading to Crystal Beach. Fare is 20 pesos each. Travel time may take up to 10-15mins.

Option 2

If you want to arrive in Zambales as early as sunrise you may do so. Its just you have to cut trip.

From Manila, ride a bus going to Olongapo, fare is 212 (victory liner) travel time is 2 and half hours, from Olongapo catch a bustrip to Iba or San Pedro and tell the kundoktor you are alighting at San Narciso. Fare is 53 pesos. Travel time is almost an hour.

Victory liner has a regular trip to Olongapo. Please check their site for updated time of the trip. But as of January 2017, first trip is 1:00 AM. Then 3 AM. We take the 3am trip.

From San Narciso, there's a tricycle terminal in front of the Church and tell the driver you are heading to Crystal Beach. Fare is 20 pesos each. Travel time may take up to 10-15mins.

We did Option 2.

Terminal of tricycle

Accommodation and Entrance Fee

Best
option is to bring your own tent and pitch on their camp site. If you have your
own tent 1 pax is 550php. That is inclusive of entrance and 250php consumable
of foods and drinks.

Honestly,
we bring our own foods to lessen the expenses, but the 250php is forced and
they call it "package" so we end up taking it anyway for we have no
choice. When I messaged Crystal Beach on facebook they did not mention about
this. They told me that the entrance fee is 295 if you have your own tent.

If you
prefer getting a room you may do so, they have a wide range of rooms available,
from fan room to airconditioned. Rate ranges from 1,700 php to 11,250. It will
depend on the number of pax and all of the room accommodation are inclusive of
breakfast.

Outside the resort, there is store that offers a tent for rent, I just don't know the price.

The only photo I did manage to take. Pardon :P

Inclusive of entrance fee for the room capacity.

Day Trip?

Possible. Day entrance fee is 195 per person. Picnic hut by the beach is 500 php good for 6 persons.

the nipa huts in the morning

nipa huts photo taken at night

Activities Offered

Surf lessons
by Quicksilver Surf School

- 400
php/hour/person inclusive of board and instructor's fee.

- 200
php/hour for board rentals only

Too bad
during our stay they are on maintenance? So my friend wasn't able to try
surfing. You may rent a board but that is if you used to surf before and
doesn't need any instructor. I could surf myself but since my friend will end
up just watching me and I don't want that so we just chill in the beach
instead.

Island Hopping
to Capones and Camara Island, Anawangin Cove - you may ask the help desk
for the quotation of price

Waterfalls
Tour -

you may ask the help desk for
the quotation of price

Body Massage -
400php/hour

Ball Games -
Volleyball, Basketball, Billiards, and Pingpong

- 100php/hour/game

- 100php/equipment(deposit)

Bonfire

Kayak -
250php/hour

Where to Eat?

They
have a restaurant and a mini store that offers rice meal, sandwiches, pasta,
shakes and all. You may also bring foods inside and if you want to bring something to grill you may do so.They have grilling part and you may purchase ice and charcoals inside too.

you should try their calamansi shake its superb!

Breakfast!

you may bring your own food like we did. :)

Contact Person

For
more information and reservations, please call at 09175452791/09338509144 or
you may visit their website at

Parking?Yep. They have parking lot inside.Souvenirs?Yep, they've got it all covered too.

Is it Safe?

As per the receptionist, cases of theft has been reported especially on Kampsite 2. So make sure to take care of your belongings. Honestly, when we heard this, we were like, oh okay what now. Just to make sure, bring your stuff everywhere.

Did we lost anything during our stay? Yeah. But no biggie. As I've mentioned above we bring foods, that includes a whole loaf bread and tuna spread that I made during our stay in the resort. We left the bag of foods outside the tent because we don't want any ants going inside our tent if ever they decided to invade our left-overs. When we were packing up I realized that the tupperware where we mix the tuna spread is missing. It is when we were eating in Pampanga that I realized that the half of loaf bread has gone missing too. No biggie, maybe they are that hungry and we would love to share anyway.

In a world full of different ideas and design you will have
a hard time deciding what to wear for your special day. I mean, it is helpful
especially if you have no idea at all on what to wear on your special day.

I’ve met people who haven’t decided their wedding dress yet.
I’ve met people who at young age already picturing what to wear on their
wedding. Some prefer it princess like, some classic vintage long dresses, some
wants a mermaid wedding dress, some wants a short wedding dresses, some prefer
it the simplest it can be.

And as I’ve said, you will never run out of supplies of
this, just know where to go and where to look. Not because there are a lot of
choices out there doesn’t mean we will not be vigilant on choosing where to
buy. We, of course need to be meticulous still on choosing our desired dresses.

There are a lot of online shop in UK but let me introduce
you to this online shop of Wedding dress UK. Ok Dress UK started back in 2013
and since they focus on providing a well-tailored wedding dresses. They provide
an excellent source of high quality goods at a very reasonable price that will
be delivered quickly. They are the leading wedding dresses and occasion dresses
manufacturer, having their own factory. They have been in the wedding dress
line for more than 10 years. They also do wholesale and retail business, and also
OEM.

They have several payment methods such as Credit Card, Western
Union, Wire Transfer, and they have been approved by McAfee and VeriSign, so
your transaction is safe and secure with them.

Delivery is also important to them so they have chosen top
companies like DHL and UPS to transport your purchases swiftly and correctly
right to your front door. No worries about that.

They also deliver excellent service, whoever you are,
wherever your location is, whenever you need their support, their customer
support will provide you the best service all day and night.

It is already year 2017 and new designs will come out in the
next month’s so we should be expecting a lot more varieties so as early as we
plan on our wedding day we should have in mind what we really want and from
there let’s put it together and look for online shop that can provide the dress
we want that will not jeopardize the quality with the price they are offering,
after all, we don’t want an epic fail wedding dress. Right?

If you are still not decided yet, you might still want to
consider OK Dress on your option, their wedding dress 2017 are all with good
taste and fashionable in its sense. Their wide variety of designs will help you
decide what you really want. Their website is built for easy access and really
a friendly-website, they have live chat which can help you look for what you
really desire. They live to their phrase, they make shopping easy.

It’s probably one of the easiest and favorite trail of mine
with a perfect view where ever you look. Well, that is my personal opinion and
may vary depending on each of our experiences.

I’ve been organizing hikes for less than a year now and it
is so much fun, not only I get to do what I love, that is climbing, but I also
get to know and make new friends with people who have same interests as I do.

Mt. Ulap should be part of everybody’s bucketlist. Aside
from the fact that it has a good view, really, no dead spot wherever you look
there is a magnificent view, the trail is relatively good for everyone. I’ve
been to Mt. Ulap twice already and it is a friendly mountain to all. Families
and friends are gathered there to witness its beauty. There are kids so young
that were able to climb it, there are some folks I’ve seen who were able to
conquer the mountain too. Really, it is for everyone.

The trail consists of pine and grassland ridges with a stunning
view of cordilleras. Another point of attraction is the so-called Ambanao Paoay
and the famous Gungal Rock which can be very populated during weekends for
pictorial taking of the hikers. We can’t blame anyone, why? It’s perfect up
there! Just make sure to take extra caution when standing on the rock.

Ambanao Paoay

On our way to Gungal Rock

Gungal Rock

It is a perfect getaway for family and friends, plus it is
40 minutes from Baguio where you can do side trips or if you are in Baguio try
considering this mountain.

My first organize hike in Mt. Ulap last December 3, 2016 took longer than expected. It was a 10hrs hike all the way down. We waited for more than an hour in the Gungal Rock because there are plenty of people waiting for their turn to take a photo. We started late around 8 in the morning so I guess that's another point and plus most of my participants are first timers but all in all they enjoyed the climb.

My second organize hike in Mt. Ulap was pretty much faster than the first group, the whole climb took us 7 and half hours. We were the second group to reach Gungal Rock. Maybe because we started so early as 4:30 in the morning.

About me

Welcome to my blog. Well, Hello, I'm Ellie, from the Philippines. Travelling on DIY basis and currently on Project81: Visiting 81 provinces of the Philippines before 30 years old.. I'm dork and very vintage, loves fashion and photography, and mostly I'm a Potterhead, but wait, a gourmand too!